Tree Preference and Temporal Activity Patterns for a Native Ant Community in an Urbanized California Woodland

Abstract

Anthropogenic disturbances, including land use change and exotic species, can alter the diversity and dynamics of ant communities. To examine foraging behavior in an urbanized habitat in northern California, we surveyed the presence of 9 ant species on 876 trees across 4 seasons during both day and night in a 9.5-hectare urbanized oak-exotic woodland. Ants were more likely to be observed on native, evergreen trees, suggesting that native evergreen species may help maintain ant diversity. Species showed clear patterns of temporal partitioning of foraging activity. Ant species varied in their use of native evergreen Quercus agrifolia trees across season and day/night axes. Of the 3 ant species most frequently observed, Camponotus semitestaceus was most active during spring and summer nights, Formica moki was most active during spring and summer days, and Prenolepis imparis was most active during both day and night during fall and winter. Liometopum occidentale was the second most active species during summer day and night, and winter day. Our findings demonstrate that an oak-exotic urban woodland in Northern California was able to maintain a native ant community, and strong temporal partitioning within that community.

The diversity of soil insects in rice field ecosystems

“…The diversity of insect species in disturbed habitats is 1.057, so it can be interpreted that the level of insect diversity in this habitat is included in the medium category followed by the dominant species, namely Camponotus laevigatus (family Formicidae). This spesies build nests from partially damaged logs, live tree stumps and dry logs (MacArthur-Waltz et al, 2021). Camponotus spp.…”

Pollination of Richea dracophylla (Ericaceae) and the role of the nocturnal ant Notoncus hickmani (Formicinae)

“…15–20°C and these have been described as cryophilic (Lőrinczi, 2016). We were able to find details of only four other cryophilic ants: Prenolepis imparis (North America) (MacArthur‐Waltz et al, 2021; Talbot, 1943), Prenolepis nitens (Europe; Lőrinczi, 2016), Camponotus vicinus (North America; Bernstein 1979) and Nothomyrmecia macrops (South Australia; Hölldobler and Taylor 1983; Taylor 1978). We found N. hickmani to forage only at night and at temperatures below 10°C, with a foraging thermal minimum (FT min ) of 2.5°C.…”

“…We found N. hickmani to forage only at night and at temperatures below 10°C, with a foraging thermal minimum (FT min ) of 2.5°C. For comparison, the most studied cryophilic ant, the North American winter ant Prenolepis imparis , is nocturnally and diurnally active (MacArthur‐Waltz et al, 2021) and forages at temperatures between 2.5 and 21°C (Talbot, 1943).…”